Shower of Sparks

A man I met when his paws were still too big for his body, before maturity, scars and art had overcome the youthful appearance I met joe in a shower of sparks, the ones behind my eyes from the effects of his over large hands balled into a fist. Over 20 years later my…

Spooning with Joe

I met Joe Gardner as a fresh faced airborne artilleryman circa 1993?. I found Joe to be very charismatic, but quiet and reserved. Always deep in thought as he examined his surroundings and always in search of higher meaning and purpose in the things he experienced. I also got to meet his alter ego, the…

Alcohol Induced Philosophies of Miller, H.Thompson and Joyce

Joe and I met like any two people – thru mutual acquaintances. We shared a gruff fondness for the alcohol induced philosophies of Miller, H.Thompson and Joyce. Joe was a fan of Bukowski, and I was impressed he could spell the guy’s name. Joe writes raw – the anytime he ever “cooks” anything is when…

To My Big Brother with Love

To My Big Brother with Love I had wondered for many years, Lived through tons of tears, Pondering what could have been, My brother, the hero I always saw within. Time to time the thoughts came back, Wasn’t I your sister? Wasn’t I your blood? We each parted our own way, Our “family” didn’t help,…

If he could spell, he’d really be dangerous

If he could spell, he’d really be dangerous, but spelling was never high on Joe’s list of ‘must improves.’ I took what many of my colleagues thought was a chance on Joe twice when he was in high school: talking him into enrolling in Advanced Placement English (“But Cizmar, I don’t think I fit…